Slide fastener with terminal member



Sept. 24, 1963 F. SCARPINI SLIDE FASTENER WITH TERMINAL MEMBER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 8. 1960 0 0 0 .0. b 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 0 0 0 0 .Y .1 V 00.000.06.000 I... 3 21. 0. .00 0 0 0 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 000000000 0000000000 5 000000000 .0000 000000 1 000000000 0000000000 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 000000000 0000000001 00000 00000000. 0000000000 00000. 00000000 .0000: 0000 0 00000000. a 0000000000 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0! n. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 000000000 0000 0000 0. 0 00000000. 600 000 0 A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2N 0 A 0H0 n. "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 m. 0 0 4 0 a c 4 2 0 2 0 n A 4 0 00 00 0 0 0 I 0 0 0 4 4 4 000 00000 0 00 000 00000000 "0M0? 000000004 H 0 x 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 000. 00 0 0 000000 0000000000000000 00 0000 00000 0000000000000000 0 0 0 v 0 0 0 0 0) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 u 0 .00000 0 000 0000000000000000 0 0 0000 00000. 0000000000000000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00000 000000 00000000000000! 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0. 0000 00000. 0000000000 00000. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 r r v v 0 0,0!0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L Fig. 2

F. SCARPINI SLIDE FASTENER WITH TERMINAL MEMBER Sept. 24, 1963 Fiied March 8; 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 24, 1963 F. SCARPINI sum: FASTENER WITH TERMINAL MEMBER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 8, 1960 XXXXM/Y Sept. 24, 1963 F. SCARPINI 3,104,433

SLIDE FA STENER WITH TERMINAL MEMBER Filed March 8, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,104,438 SLIDE FASTENER WlTH TERMINAL MEMBER Franco Scarpini, Milan, Italy, assignor to Ri-Ri Werlre A.G., Mendrisio, Switzerland Filed Mar. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 13,634 Claims priority, application Switzerland Mar. 9, 1959 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-20511 The present invention relates to the manufacture of slide fasteners with terminal members of the type in which the fastener members are directly cast onto the stringer tapes of the slide fastener by a pressure casting or die casting process.

As is well known the terminal member serves to inseparably secure the two halves of the slide fastener as Well as for limiting the movements of the slider and such terminal member normally is brought upon the stringer tapes simultaneously with the fastener members.

Terminal members made of a pressure-casting alloy or of synthetic material and cast directly onto the stringer tapes are known in the art. In order, however, to ascertain the secure connection of the two halves of the slide fastener against separation the terminal members known up to now undergo an additional working operation. This operation may consist of pressing together or otherwise deforming the terminal members at the pressure casting, of gluing, welding or heat sealing them when they are made of synthetic material or of generally providing rivets, clamps or wires.

It is a prime object of the present invention to provide a slide fastener having a terminal member eifectfully preventing separation of the halves of the fastener for examples when the slider abuts thereagainst, and this without any additional deformation or working operation.

This particular feature of the invention may on the one hand be obtained by the elasticity of the stringer tapes to which the parts of the terminal members are secured or in a modified embodiment by the elasticity of the material used for the terminal members and on the other hand by the particular construction of the projections and cavities or recesses provided for joining together the terminal members by the slider, but also by the particular relative position of the parts with respect to each other. Simultaneously any relative movement of the parts is etfectfiully prevented. The coupling or joining of the parts of the terminal member is obtained by a reciprocal, partly pivotal superposition of the individual elements.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description now to follow of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of examples only, and in which reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a plan View of the lower end of a slide fastener with a terminal member in joined position.

FIGURE 2 is a section taken along the line I-I in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the two halves of the slide fastener with the terminal member shortly before their joining by the slider.

FIGURE 4 shows the joining of the (terminal member parts by the slider.

FIGURE 5 shows how the slider is stopped by the lower terminal member.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a modification of the means for stopping the slider at the lower terminal member.

FIGURE 7 shows another embodiment of a lower terminal member.

FIGURE 8 shows how the slider is stopped by the lower terminal member of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 shows a further embodiment of a lower terminal member.

3,104,438 Patented Sept. 24, 1963 FIGURE 10 shows the passage of the terminal member of FIGURE 9 through the slider. FIGURE 11 shows how the slider is stopped by the lower terminal member of FIGURE 9.

Referring now to the drawings FIGURE 1 represents a portion of a slide fastener having stringer tapes designated by reference numerals 1 and 2, respectively, and a marginal head 3 onto which rows of fastener members 4 are directly cast by a pressure casting or by a die casting process. In order to obtain at the end of the slide fastener a connection of the two stringers which is inseparable in use a terminal member consisting of three parts 5, 6 and 7 is provided at the end of the rows of fastener members. This terminal member is made of the same material as the fastener members 4. The parts 5, 6 and 7 forming this terminal member are brought onto the stringer tapes in the same working operation as are the fastener members 4. The latter and the terminal member may be made of any appropriate metal for example of zinc or of a synthetic material such as polyamid or the like.

Thefastener members 4 each have a coupling head provided at opposite sides with coupling projections. and coupling recesses, extending from the upper and lower side of the fastener member to a supporting or bearing surface arranged parallelly to the common plane of the stringers in the middle of the terminal member.

When the fastener members are interengaged in the usual manner by a conventional slider S the projections of one fastener member engage the recesses of the cooperating opposite fastener members. Simultaneously the bearing surfaces of adjacent fastener members overlap each other and prevent sliding separation of the joined fastener members in a direction perpendicular to the plane comprising the stringers.

The parts 5, 6 and 7 of the terminal member also comprise projections and recesses arranged for interengagement to prevent relative displacement of the parts in the longitudinal direction and cooperating bearing surfaces extending parallelly to the common plane of the stringers and arranged to prevent sliding separation of the parts in the direction perpendicular to said plane.

The part 6 of the terminal member has a projection 8 engaging a recess 9 of part 7. A projection 10 of part 7 simultaneously engages a recess 11 of part 6. A recess 12 extends from the upper side of part 7 to the middle thereof and forms at this point a bearing surface =13. It is engaged by a projection 14 of part 6, which also extends only to the middle of the part and bears against the surface 13.

Part 7 of the terminal member has a projection 15 extending from the upper side of this part to the middle thereof and a further projection 16 extending from the lower side of this part up to the middle to form there a bearing surface 17. The part 5 of the terminal member has a recess 18 extending from the upper side of this part to the middle thereof and bordered by a bearing surface 19. The projection 15 of part 7 engages the recess 18 of the part 5 and bears upon the surface 19. The part 5 is further provided with a head 20 extending in length beyond the fastener members 4 and extending from the upper side of this part to the middle thereof where it forms a surface 21. At the joining the surfaces 17 of part 7 and 21 of part5 slide one over the other.

Part 5 of the terminal member is provided at its upper side with a projection 22 extending to the middle thereof and with a recess 23, and on its lower side with a projection 24 extending to the middle thereof and with a recess 25. These projections and recesses facing the fastener members 4 serve to couple the part 5 with the adjacent fastener member 4 of the opposite half of the slide fastener. The bordering edge 26 of the head 20 of part 5 which is inclined towards the fastener members 4 lies about at the same level as the longitudinal middle axis of the part in transverse direction of the stringer.

In order to permit passage of the one half of the slide fastener with the prolonged part of the terminal member for joining with the other half of the slide fastener through the sliding channel of the slide fastener slider S, the foot of the terminal member part 5 enclosing the bead 3 of the stringer 2 has shoulder portions 27 so that the part 28 lying immediately above the stringer 2 is thinner than the channel 29 of the slider S for the passage of the stringer (FIGURE 2).

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate the joining phase of the two halves of the slide fastener, i.e. of the terminal membar by the slider S;

FIGURE 5 shows how the downwardly moved slider S is stopped whereby the slider wedge 30 abuts the bordering edge 26 of part 5 and through the reciprocal supporting of the terminal member parts 5, 6 and 7 is prevented -from further movements.

The terminal member shown in FIGURE 6 consists of the parts 6 and 7, whereby the projection 15 of part 7 projecting beyond the middle of the fastener serves as abutment or stop means for the wedge 30 of the downwardly moved slider S.

The terminal member shown in FIGURE 7 consists of the parts 6, 7 and 31. The part 31 serving to stop the slider S at its downward movement has, in profile, a

. rhomboidical shape as shown in FIGURE 8.

When interengaging the two halves of the slide fastener the two inclined surfaces 32 of part 31 are moved to extend parallel-1y to the guiding channel of the slider S in order to permit upward movement of the latter, whereby the fiexible head 3 of the stringer is deformed.

When the slider S is moved downwardly the lower edge 33 of the slider abuts the now protruding lateral edgeof the rhomboidioal part 31 and prevents further movement of the slider S. V

FIGURES 9, l0 and 11 show a slide fastener having a terminal member made of thermoplastic material. This terminal member consists of parts 34 and 35 provided with interengageab-le projections and recesses. Both parts have at both sides resilient portions 36 extending vertically with respect to the plane of the stringers beyond the thickness of parts 34 and 35 and arranged at the end facing the fastener members 4 and extending from the longitudinal middle axis of the parts towards the upper and lower side thereof.

The resilient portions 36 could be provided at one terminal member part only or at the fastener members 4 adjacent the terminal member.

When the stringers 1 and 2 are connected the portions 36 adapt themselves to the guiding; channel of the slider S and, owing to their elasticity, evade slightly upwardly (FIGURE so that the slider S may pass over them without resistance. If new the slider is moved down- 4 wardly the portions 36 are seized by the lower edge of the slider and are slightly bent downwardly so as to bear against the rigid parts of the terminal member andto prevent further movement of the slider (FIGURE 11).

The terminal members of the described slide fastener have the advantage that they may be brought onto the stringer tapes in the same working operation and in the same mould as the fastener members, and that they do not require any additional working operationto obtain the inseparable connection of the two slide fastener halves.

I claim:

:1. A slide fastener having two stringers, rows of cow pling members cast onto said stringers and having interengageable projections and recesses, a slider cooperable with said coupling members, a terminal element also cast onto said stringers and having at least two parts of which one is cast on one stringer and the other is cast on the other stringer, said terminal element parts having projections and recesses differing from those of said coupling members yet said projections and recesses being interengageable by said slider by movement of the latter in the closing direction for preventing relative displacement of said parts in the direction longitudinal of the fastener, said terminal element parts including for at.

least one thereof a structural formation of such greater lateral extent across the longitudinal mid-axis of the fastener as to present when once said terminal element parts are so interengaged by the slider a positive stop member racing theadjacent coupling members and being of greater length than said coupling members and adapted tor direct abuttive opposition to movement of the slider in the direction of coupling member opening, and said slider having an abutting portion cooperable with said stop member for positively blocking the slider at the terminal element by said opposition thereto and thereby certainly preventing disengagement of the terminal element parts by the slider when the latter is moved in the opening direction. I

2. A slide fastener according to claim 1 in which said terminal element part forming the stop member has a foot enclosing the margin of the stringer tape, said foot having at both sides a shoulder portion such that the portion of the foot lying immediately above the stringer tape is narrower than the guiding channel of the slider for the passage of the stringer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,837,511 Whitney Dec. 22, 1931 1,949,882 Rocke Mar. 6, 1934 2,701,401 Dorman Feb. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 364,280 Italy Oct. 27, 1938 128,583 Australia Aug. 2, 1948 

1. A SLIDE FASTENER HAVING TWO STRINGERS, ROWS OF COUPLING MEMBERS CAST ONTO SAID STRINGERS AND HAVING INTERENGAGEABLE PROJECTIONS AND RECESSES, A SLIDER COOPERABLE WITH SAID COUPLING MEMBERS, A TERMINAL ELEMENT ALSO CAST ONTO SAID STRINGERS AND HAVING AT LEAST TWO PARTS OF WHICH ONE IS CAST ON ONE STRINGER AND THE OTHER IS CAST ON THE OTHER STRINGER, SAID TERMINAL ELEMENT PARTS HAVING PROJECTIONS AND RECESSES DIFFERING FROM THOSE OF SAID COUPLING MEMBERS YET SAID PROJECTIONS AND RECESSES BEING INTERENGAGEABLE BY SAID SLIDER BY MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER IN THE CLOSING DIRECTION FOR PREVENTING RELATIVE DISPLACEMENT OF SAID PARTS IN THE DIRECTION LONGITUDINAL OF THE FASTENER, SAID TERMINAL ELEMENT PARTS INCLUDING FOR AT LEAST ONE THEREOF A STRUCTURAL FORMATION OF SUCH GREATER LATERAL EXTENT ACROSS THE LONGITUDINAL MID-AXIS OF THE FASTENER AS TO PRESENT WHEN ONCE SAID TERMINAL ELEMENT PARTS ARE SO INTERENGAGED BY THE SLIDER A POSITIVE STOP MEMBER FACING THE ADJACENT COUPLING MEMBERS AND BEING OF GREATER LENGTH THAN SAID COUPLING MEMBERS AND ADAPTED FOR DIRECT ABUTTIVE OPPOSITION TO MOVEMENT OF THE SLIDER IN THE DIRECTION OF COUPLING MEMBER OPENING, AND SAID SLIDER HAVING AN ABUTTING PORTION COOPERABLE WITH SAID STOP MEMBER FOR POSITIVELY BLOCKING THE SLIDER AT THE TERMINAL ELEMENT BY SAID OPPOSITION THERETO AND THEREBY CERTAINLY PREVENTING DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TERMINAL ELEMENT PARTS BY THE SLIDER WHEN THE LATTER IS MOVED IN THE OPENING DIRECTION. 